Ticket dispensing machine



.June 27, 1939.

F. McK.-JoNEs 2,163,754

TICKET DISPENSING MACHINE Fi'led April 22, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEYS June 27, '1939. FL MCK. JoNEs TICKET DISPENSING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 22. 1938 Patented June 27, 1939 UNITED STATES Aram oFFlcE TICKET DISPENSING MACHINE Frederick McKinley Jones, Minneapolis, Minn.,

assignor to Nation-Wide Manufacturing Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application April 22, 1938, Serial No. 203,709

8 Claims.

ing of tickets.

It is an object of the invention to furnish a mechanism of this character which may be operated with facility by a relatively unskilled person and in which, in an improved manner, the various desired functions of shifting, severing, and tabulating of a strip to be vended are accomplished.

A further object of theV invention is that of including in a mechanism of this character a construction such that jamming will be practically impossible, but in which if such jamming should occur, or if a spring should fail, the machine may nevertheless be operated.

A still further object is that of constructing a novel and extremely desirable form of severing mechanism such that at no time will there be danger of there occurring only a partial severing of the strip.

Another object is that of providing a mechanism of this type in which a complete shifting of the strip to be vended occurs and in accordance with Vthe number of strip units which are to be dispensed.

An additional object is that of providing a mechanism of this type which will embody relatively few parts, each individually simple and rugged in construction and capable of operating over long periods of time with freedom from all difiiculties.

With these and other objects in mind, reference is had to the attached sheets of drawings, illustrating one practical embodiment of the invention, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a partly sectional side view of the unit;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view taken along the lines 2-2 and in the direction of the arrows of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing the parts after they have been shifted to a certain extent;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing the parts shifted to a further position;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the severing mechanism, and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of the totalizing unit and operating mechanism therefor.

In these views the numeral I0 indicates the casing of the machine which may be of any desired configuration and which is disposed adjacent a ticket or strip roll (not shown) it being understood that the unit is preferably part of a permanent installation or casing which may house the tickets, form a part of a dispensing counter, etc. It is also to be observed that for the purposes of simplicity of illustration the present machine is capable of only dispensing a maximum of four tickets or units. It is apparent that the machine might be amplified to disburse a greater number should this be desired.

As shown, four operating levers or keys ll, I2, *Y

Also H the keys and is movable around' the shaft I8 ink dependently of such keys. One of the side portions 2| Which extends from member I9 and mounts it upon the shaft I8 projects materially to the other side of the shaft, and presents a quadrant or arcuate edge 22 and an arm 2i).

The latter is coupled by a link 24 to one arm of a bell crank lever 25 pivotally supported as at 26 by the casing. The second arm of bell crank lever 25 pivotally mounts adjacent its outer end a pawl 21 spring actuated as at 28 to normally ride between the guiding portions of a trackway which includes, in the present instance, a pair of spaced opposed channel members 29.

As shown, especially in Fig. 1, these trackway portions extend to a point adjacent the lower v edge of the casing and may there be ared away from each other to provide a guide for the entrance'of a ticket strip 29 which may, as shown, be formed With an opening adjacent the end of each ticket. These openings are arranged within the path of travel of pawl 21 and it accordingly follows that if bell crank lever 25 is swung in a clockwise direction, the pawl will traverse the strip 29 and successively enter the openings 30. acts to normally urge the same in a counterclockwise direction, it being thus obvious that under the influence of this spring the ticket strip will be fed along the track or guiding structure 29 towards the delivery or vending station. 4

At this time it is also to be understood that for the purposes of avoiding undue illustration, spring 3l has merely been shown in a conventional manner. Actually, it is a relatively A spring 3l is coupled to the bell crank and I, 45

the ticket strip may be fed with facility.

Now it is obvious that if key portion II is depressed, this will result in its arm Il riding within the slot 29 of greatest depth. Accordingly, actuating member I9 will not be moved until the key II is almost fully depressed. Consequently, bell crank lever 25 will cause the pawl 2l to travel only a distance corresponding to the length of one ticket, and it follows that when the bell crank lever may return under the influence of spring 3l, only one ticket will be vended. The depth of the slot within which arm II of key I2 rides is less and accordingly movement of the parts causes the pawl to traverse a distance equal to the distance of two tickets, while again in the case of key I3, the length of the slot accommodating the arm I'I coupled thereto is such that three tickets will be vended. Finally, it will be observed that with respect to key I4, the arm I'I coupled thereto directly engages the edge of the actuating member. It follows that pawl 2l will be moved a distance equivalent to four tickets so that in its return movement a corresponding number of tickets will be vended.

It will, moreover, be observed that each key is normally maintained in its uppermost position by means of springs 32 coupled one to each of the extensions Il', and that the upward movement of the arms I is limited by the upper edges of slots I6 and by a stop bar 33. This stop bar also cooperates with levers 34 pivotally secured one to each of the bars I5 as at 35 and each having shoulder portions 36 and a guiding portion 3l. Each of the levers 34 extends beyond the point of pivotal mount as indicated at 38 and is coupled to one end of a spring 39, the opposite end of p which may be conveniently secured to extension Incidentally, upon one of the keys being depressed, the corresponding spring 39 will swing its lever 34 upwardly, and the guiding portion 3l thereof will ride in contact with the edge of the actuating member I9. As the parts return to their normal position under the influence of spring 3|, the guiding portions 37 will ride in an opposite direction in contact with the edge of the actuating member, and finally the upper edge of the lever 34 will be engaged by the bar or stop 33 to return it to the position shown in Fig. 1. Let us assume, however, that for some reason spring 3l fails to return the bell crank; it will be observed that the shoulder portion 36 will contact the actuating member I9 and this member will accordingly be forced, under the influence of spring 32, to return to its normal position, thus carrying with .it bell crank lever 25. If for some reason the resistance to movement is so great that the spring 32 does not eect proper movement of the ticket strip, then it is apparent that nevertheless by simply forcing the particular key upward, movement of the bell crank lever and pawl will follow.

It will be appreciated, in a mechanism of this character, that some provisionshould be made to guard against an operator partially depressing a key with resultant incomplete vending. A mechanism serving Vto guard against this occurrence is provided by mounting adjacent the quadrant or arcuate edge 22 of the side portion 2|, a cam 40 which is pivotally mounted and under the urging `ofa spring '4I serves normally to rockin a clockwise direction. The parts are so proportioned that when Vthe side portion 2| rotates in a clockwise direction the cam 45 `is shifted past dead center and thereupon bears in sliding contact with the edge 22 to prevent the side portion 2l moving in a counter-clockwise direction. Therefore, the movement of actuating member I 9 must continue in this direction until the particular bar I5, which is being depressed, strikes against the offset end portion 42 of a pivotally mounted plate 43. This plate has an extension 44 movable into contact with the rear edge of the cam. This, together with the particular arcuate configuration of edge 22, permits and causes the cam to be deliberately shifted past dead center as any particular key reaches Vits fully depressed position. Thereupon, the only direction in which the side wall I may be moved is in a counter-clockwise one. When the parts again reach their normal position, as illustrated in Fig. 1, the cam must again be reversed or shifted to the position shown in that figure. The mechanism for accomplishing this will be hereinafter described.

As the tickets are vended it will be appreciated that a severing mechanism should be provided to detach Ythem from the main body of the strip. With this thought in mind a plate 45 is mounted adjacent the end of the trackway and formed with an opening 45 through which the vended tickets pass. In slidable Contact with this plate is a severing knife 4l which is maintained in proper position by having riveted to it a pair of spring members 48 which yieldingly and constantly press it into contact with plate 45. The opposite end of these spring members is secured to a plate 4S mounted for reciprocation along the outer face of plate 45. The latter is, of course, stationary, and a pin and slot guide structure 5B may be furnished to corinne the movements of the lower end of plate 43 to a givenpath. The movements of the upper end of this plate are correspondingly confined by coupling to plate 45 a post 5I which passes through an opening or between the arms adjacent the upper end of plate 49. This post supports the upper end of a spring 52, the lower end of which is coupled to an extension 53 forming a part of plate 49. Accordingly the knife 4l is constantly urged upwardly. Pivotally mounted upon a shaft 54 is a bell crank lever 55, one arm of which has an extension 56 extending in line with the projecting portions I'I' of the bars I5. The opposite end of this lever rides within a notch 5l' formed in the plate 49. A pair of latch members 58 and 59 are pivotally supported as at 55 by the plate `45 and are engageable with the upper part of a projection 5I of the plate 49 as the latter moves downwardly. Engagement is assured by employing a spring 62 which has one or" its ends coupled to an extension 53 of latch member 59, its opposite end being coupled to an extension 54 of latch member 5B, thus urging the operative portions of these members towards each otherV and in contact with the edge of plate 49.

In view of the foregoing it is obvious that as one of the bars I5 is depressed its extension Il will contact portion 55 to rock bell crank lever 55 in a counter-clockwise direction and against the urging of spring 65. This will, of course, cause plate 49 to be retracted to a point where the latch members, 58 and 59 move into the path of travel of the projection 6I to accordingly prevent an upward movement of the knife 4l across slot 46. Now, as bell crank lever 25 shifts -in Va counterclockwise direction, Vits edge will come into contact with Vthe extension 64 of member `58 to thus shift the latter to a point at which knife 4'! could be projected. Of course, during such movement, bell crank lever 55 has been returning to its normal position. At a point short of the end of `its arm which rides within notch 51, this latter 'bell crank lever mounts a trip element in the nature of an adjusting screw 66. This screw contacts extension B3 as bell crank lever 55, under the influence of spring 65, shifts in a counterclockwise direction, and the parts are so timed that latch member 59 releases plate 49 as the Vending operation is completed and accordingly the vended tickets are severed.

Plate 49 performs a function additional to that of effecting a severing of the tickets in that a bell crank lever 61 is pivotally mounted as at 68, and has one of its ends underlying the edge of plate 49, and its opposite edge lying adjacent cam 40. This lever is normally urged in a clockwise direction by a spring 69. Obviously, as one of the bars l5 is depressed to thus rock bell crank lever 55 and retract plate 49, the latter will cause movement of bell crank lever 61 in a counterclockwise direction. With the latch members 58 and 59 maintaining plate 49 in retracted position, it is obvious that bell crank lever 61 will be similarly maintained. Also, as these members are potentialized to release plate 49 to effect the severing operation aforedescribed and finally do so release the plate, the lever 61, under the influence of spring 69, will be permitted to suddenly move, thus violently engaging cam 48 and reversing the position of the latter.

Before departing from a consideration of the general mechanism heretofore described, it is to be noted that various cushioning expedients may be resorted to to prevent any damage to the parts. Thus, the post 5| may carry a stop member such as a pad 1D which may be contacted by an extension 1| associated with plate 49. Accordingly, as this plate is violently projected, its movements will be interrupted in a manner not calculated to cause damage. Similarly, a wedge fit for pawl 21 may be provided by disposing adjacent the trackway an inclined shelf portion 12 lined with resilient material 13 engaging the correspondingly inclined face of pawl member 21. Thus, even if the latter is moving forwardly with considerable impetus, its movements will be arrested without undue shock to the parts.

In a machine of this character it is, of course, desirable to provide for a tabulation or counting of the tickets vended. With this thought in mind, attention is especially directed to Fig. 6 in which it will be observed that the numeral 14 indicates a counter actuated by a gear 15. A rack 16 underlies this gear and may be shifted to a point where its teeth engage with teeth of gear 15 by means of an arm 11. The latter has a bridging portion 18 mounted upon a shaft 19 and an arm extends from the opposite end of this bridging portion. This arm lies within the trackway and if tickets are disposed within the latter it is maintained in elevated condition. 'This will cause a meshing of the teeth of the rack and gear. If, on the other hand, no tickets are present, these parts will not be operatively coupled and no registration or tabulation will occur. Thus, unless tickets are being vended, the totalizer will notl function. The rack 16 is pivotally coupled to the plate 2| so that reciprocation of the former will occur.

With a view to preventing a retrograde movement of the ticket strip within the trackway and such as might occur incident to the frictional contact between such strip and the pawl 21, a further pawl 8| is pivotally mounted at a point adjacent the severing mechanism. This pawl is spring pressed as at 82 to extend in the path of travel of the strip, thus obviously achievingy the desired results.

Finally, it will be appreciated that at certain instances an operator may find it necessary to deliberately retract the ticket strip and this would normally be prevented incident to the pawls 21 and 8|. Such retraction would ordinarily occur possibly at the close of business, but frequently more often, incident to the fact that most of the establishments, where any mechanism of this nature is employed, change the type and price of their tickets during some stage of the working day. To permit of this it will be noted that a lever. 83 is pivotally supported by the casing and normally urged upwardly by a spring 84. Actuating portion may extend beyond the casing and when depressed by the operator will cause a downward swinging of the lever 83. The outer end of this lever hits an offset projection 8E forming a part of pawl 8 A further offset portion 81, also forming a part of the lever, contacts an extension 88 forming a part of pawl 21. It follows -that when the lever 83 is depressed, both pawls 21 and 8| will be thrown to inoperative position to thus allow of a retraction of strip 29.

Thus, among others, the several objects of the invention as afore noted are achieved. Obviously, numerous changes in construction and rearrangement of the parts might be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A strip vending machine including means for supporting and guiding a strip to be vended, ra plurality of members operable to cause various lengths of said strip to be dispensed, a single means engaging said strip to shift the same and coupled to all of said members to have predetermined Zones of movement dependent upon actuation of any given member, means for assuring a complete retraction through any of said zones of said shifting means before the latter may be projected, means assuring a complete projection of said shifting means throughout any particular zone before the latter may be retracted means for preventing a movement of said strip while said shifting means is being projected, and means common to said last named means and said shifting means for rendering both of the same inoperative.

2. A dispensing device including a strip guiding and supporting means, means for shifting said strip along said guiding means to dispense the strip, actuating means for said shifting means and to cause the same to move through different zones of travel, bars for causing movement of said actuating means in one direction, a spring for causing movement of said actuating means in one direction, a spring for causing movement of said actuating and shifting means in an opposite direction, and means carried by said bars and engaging said actuating means to permit of a forcible movement of the latter in the event of failure of said spring to cause a return movement of said actuating means.

3. A dispensing device including a strip guiding and supporting means, means for shifting said strip along said guiding means to dispense the strip, actuating means for said shifting means and to cause the same to` move through different zones of travel, bars for causing movement of said actuating means in one direction, a spring for causing movement of said actuating means in one direction, a spring for causing movement of said actuating and shifting means in an opposite direction, means carried by said bars and engaging said actuating means to permit of a forcible movement of the latter in the event of failure of said spring to cause a return movement of said actuating means, and means for causing said last named means to be rendered inoperative in the event of proper operation of said spring.

4. A dispensing device including a strip guiding and supporting means, means for shifting said strip along said guiding means to dispense the strip, actuating means for said shifting means and to cause the same to move through different zones of travel, bars for causing movement of said actuating means in one direction, a spring for causing movement of said actuating means in one direction, a spring for causing movement of said actuating and shifting means in an opposite direction, and means for preventing a movement of said actuating or shifting means in a given direction after movement of the same has been initiated in an opposite direction.

5. A dispensing device including a strip guiding and supporting means, means for shifting said strip along said guiding means to dispense the strip, actuating means for said shifting means and to cause the same to move through Ydierent zones of travel, bars for causing movement ofsaid actuating means in one direction, a spring for causing movement of said 'actuating means in one direction, a spring for Vcausing movement of said actuating and shifting means in fan opposite direction, a cam-engaging theedge of said actuating means to prevent movement of the same in one direction, and means responsive to bar movement to cause said actuating means to vmove in an opposite direction resulting in a lreversal of the functions of said cam upon the completion of bar movement.

6. A dispensing device including a strip guiding and supporting means, means for shifting said strip along said guiding means to dispense the strip actuating means for said shifting means and to cause the same to move through diierent zones of travel, bars for causing movement of said actuating means in one direction, a spring for causing movement of said actuating means in one direction, a spring for causing movement of said actuating and shifting means in an opposite direction, a cam engaging the edge of said actuating means to prevent movement of the same in one direction, and means dependent upon spring operation to cause a shifting and reversal of the function of said cam.

7. A vending machine including a strip supporting and guiding means, means for shifting a strip Within said guiding means, a severing mechanism including a stationary plate, a knife carrying plate movable adjacent the same, fa spring 5 for normally projecting a knife to effect a severing operation, means responsive to movement of said shifting means for causing said knife and spring to be potentialized to effect such severing operation, a pair of latch members engageable with said knife carrying plate to maintain the latter in potentialized position, means operated by said shifting means to release one of said latch members, and means also actuated by said shifting means to release the second of said latch members.

8. A vending machine including a strip supporting and guiding means, means for shifting a strip within said guiding means, a severing mechanism including a stationary plate, a knife carrying plate movable adjacent the same, a Yspring for normally projecting a knife'to effect a severing operation, means responsive to movement of said shifting means for causing said knife and spring to be potentialized to effect such severing operation, means Yactuated by said shifting means and substantially upon the completion of g its movement to release'one of said latch members, actuating means for said shifting means and having lost motion with respect to the same,V and FREDERICK MCKINLEY JONES. 

